Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
Celebrating Christmas is not easy. That comes as no surprise to you. Maybe you are feeling the holiday stress right now. And we are barely into December. The trees with lights, the presents with bows, the cookies with sprinkles, the meals with family. And so on. So much to accomplish in such a short time. How will we get it all done?
But that is what the season of Advent is for. And John the Baptizer. To get us ready for Jesus’ coming—as a Baby in a manger and as a Judge on the clouds. Prepare your hearts by listening to the one coming before and by looking for the One coming after. We read from …
Matthew 3:1-12
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, whose first coming we celebrate and whose second coming we anticipate,
I can already guess the comment (along with the heavy sigh): “And so now the December list grows. As if there wasn’t enough already.”
But perhaps it is good to understand that preparing our hearts during Advent is not just another thing to do, but the thing to do. The externals around our homes are nice. The evergreen and the eggnog. The gifts and get-togethers. Those things can add to this time of the year. (And not just anxiety or allergies.) That all makes the month enjoyable and exciting.
But the internals of our hearts are necessary for Jesus’ arrival. We don’t push it to the bottom—possibly to get around to it, but put it at the top—definitely to get at it.
Prepare Your Hearts
1. By listening to the one coming before (1-10)
2. By looking for the One coming after (11,12)
1. By listening to the one coming before (1-10)
A forerunner is one who goes before. It is a person who precedes an individual. That is a great description of John. He is an advance messenger. He has something to say. Prepare your hearts by listening to the one coming before.
And there he is. “John the Baptist came” (Mt 3:1). As he appears on the scene, Matthew doesn’t concern us with the “when”—“in those days” (Mt 3:1)—as he does the “where”—“in the Desert of Judea” (Mt 3:1). But he is not a hermit in the wilderness, but a herald of the Lord. That is what “preaching” means—announcing as a representative (Mt 3:1). It is one who is an official envoy of a superior and who has a message to relay. The charge is not to change anything; the commission is to communicate everything. And that is exactly what John does.
In that desolate and deserted area around the Jordan River—an appropriate picture of the condition of the peoples’ hearts, the content is clear. “Repent” (Mt 3:1). There needed to be a change of mind and attitude—a turning from one’s sin and a turning to one’s Savior. Sin is wrong, not right. And then there is a Savior who forgives, not forsakes.
That preaching is just as real and relevant now. Listen to the one who comes before: “Repent” (Mt 3:1). Satan would have us think that sin satisfies. But it only separates us from God. When we realize that, there is sorrow.
But we dare not stop there. It is not just a matter of being sad for being bad so that our mood matches the weather—grey and gloomy. There is Jesus, who takes away our sin (Jn 1:29). He lifts it off of us as he hangs on the cross. That is why John could explain: “for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Mt 3:1). Jesus’ work of rescuing us was at hand. God reigns and rules in our hearts with his Word—the very Word which guarantees that every sin is paid for and we are right with God, all through the shoot of the stump of Jesse that Isaiah pointed to (Is 11:1,4). Jesus’ arrival to do that was close—a kingdom coming from heaven that conducts to heaven.
Speaking of that spokesman, John was not self-appointed, but prophet-promised (Is 40:3). “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him’” (Mt 3:3). In ancient times, when a dignitary came to town, there would be some serious road construction—no obstacles or obstructions on the path. There needed to be roads that were smooth and straight. That was John’s job—to remove anything standing in the way. He was to convict in order to comfort. Prepare your hearts by listening to the one coming before. What is crooked needs to be corrected. Jesus is coming to live a perfect life, to die a shameful death, and to rise in triumphant victory. All for us.
And that proclaiming was effective. People poured out into the barren region from all parts of Israel. It wasn’t for a fashion show. John looked like Elijah before him—garments made of camel hair (maybe that is exotic now, but expected then) (Mt 3:4; 2 Kg 1:8). It wasn’t for menu suggestions unless there were questions about what to do with honey and grasshoppers (Mt 3:4; Lv 11:22). That was what was available to him in that setting. It wasn’t ever about dress or diet; it was always about the words and the work. He was sent by God and spoke for God.
Matthew records what happened: “Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River” (Mt 3:6). There was a public admission from the crowds—even if it wasn’t easy. And then there was a personal assurance to each as John did what his name suggests—he baptized them.
We acknowledge our sin as if we might raise our hand. It is at times difficult. It may even hurt to repent and confess. It may be along these lines:
At this busy time of the year, we can make excuses to not sit in the pew, but find chances to shop in the mall. Forgive us, Lord. And he does.
Rather than be grateful we gripe, “I don’t have as much as so and so.” Forgive us, Lord. And he does.
That is when we appreciate that God sends them all and others away. We have that relief not just when words are spoken, but when water is splashed on our foreheads at baptism by God’s representatives. Prepare your hearts as you listen to the one coming before. As the psalmist reminded us when we cry out for God’s mercy: “With you there is forgiveness” (Ps 130:4).
But not everyone headed out to John for the right reason. It was a show, or better a sham. And he called them on it—the Pharisees who thought that they we good to go because of their goodness and the Sadducees who lived for this life because they denied any resurrection. “You brood of vipers!” (Mt 3:7). “Offspring of serpents.” That is not a compliment no more than when we label someone a “snake.” There is deceit and deception. “Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” (Mt 3:7). Did they think God was not angry with them? Could they escape on their own like a crawling creature trying to escape a brush fire? “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Mt 3:8). Their faith in God was to be reflected in their life to God.
And then he strips away the safety net. “Don’t you dare get the idea of identifying with your ancestor:” “And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’” (Mt 3:9). Their DNA did them no good. That was the poisonous venom of Satan. No more than if we were to claim, “My grandpa was a pastor. That ought to get me some points.” Or “My mother goes to church. That should be worth something.” What about you? was the real concern. God didn’t need them. They needed him. There were plenty of rocks around that God could make his children. [Slide 15] God doesn't need us. But he wants us. It is only when we have the same confidence of our father Abraham who trusted in the Savior to come that we are part of God’s family (Ro 4:11).
John was not being crabby or cranky. This was serious. For them and for us. So he issues more warnings: “The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Mt 3:10). Judgment is not a joke. When an ax rests against a trunk, the outcome is sealed. Soon it will carry out its function as it is drawn back and swung forward. Again and again. If you go to one of these Christmas tree farms for something to stick in your living room, you don’t hack down half a tree. There is no stopping until there is a “timber.” The owner of an orchard does not tolerate trees that don’t yield a harvest. He chops and chars.
When God showers his love on us, it shows in our lives. Connected to Jesus we produce fruits of faith (Jn 15:5). They are the result of the grace given to us in Jesus, not the cause of it. The apostle Paul pointed to one possibility—accepting one another. The result: “so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ro 15:6). Prepare your hearts by listening to the one coming before. John gets us ready for Jesus’ entrance into this world—on Christmas Day or on Judgment Day.
2. By looking for the One coming after (11,12)
If there is a “forerunner,” there must be a runner. (Just remove the “fore” in front.) That is not how we talk though. It is just the expected person. That is Jesus. He is on his way. Prepare your hearts by looking for the One coming after.
It was never about John. He knew that. It was all about Jesus. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Mt 3:11). John didn’t consider himself fit to do the job of a lowly slave—removing footwear from one’s master. Jesus was bigger and better. That doesn’t take away from John's baptism. There was forgiveness. But the real might behind it was Jesus. He demonstrated that in a special way when he sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:5). He continues to bring people to faith through water combined with and connected to baptism.
John also referenced that the One coming after him would be coming once again—to separate believers and unbelievers like at harvest time. “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Mt 3:12). In those days, a farmer would grab his fork and toss the stalks up in the air. The chaff, like the stuff that gets stuck in your teeth or throat when you eat popcorn, would blow away or get burned up (Ps 1:4). The good grain would fall to the ground.
So it is with Jesus. Why all this talk about judgment? It seems so depressing. Aren't we supposed to be happy around this time of the year. But it is so that we are on alert. Fire is destructive. You have seen the deadly effects in Tennessee. There are cautions for people to be careful. We want to ensure that we are not sent to where the fire never goes out in hell.
And we won’t as we wait patiently for our Savior, confident of his reappearance—for us. Prepare your hearts by looking for the One coming after. Jesus will return to take us to the glory of heaven.
You more than likely have plenty to do in the next 21 days before Christmas. That is fine. Have at it. But not at the expense of your hearts. Prepare your hearts by listening to the one coming before Jesus—John. Repent. Be sorry for sin but be sure of your Savior. Live with him and for him. And prepare your hearts by looking for the One coming after John—Jesus. His next grand entrance on earth again will be to usher us home. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Re 22:20). We are ready. Amen.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen (Ro 15:13).
December 4, 2016
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